With great zest Russian people anticipate the beginning of a new year and mark the end of the previous one with incredibly festive and joyous celebrations throughout the whole country 31 декабря (December 31). Everyone exchanges подарки (gifts), yet beautifully decorated ёлки (Christmas trees) are a must in each Russian household. Kids cannot wait to meet with Дед Мороз (Grandpa Frost) who comes with his granddaughter Снегурочка, bringing special gifts to children and their parents. Typically ёлка remains in a Russian house until January 14th, that is when the Old Year is officially gone and the New Year is in a full term.
Even though young people like to go out to attend New Year’s parties, the majority of Russians stay home and consider the New Year a family holiday. This is why house parties and family celebrations are most common in Russia with dinner tables full of homemade dishes and traditional Russian salads such as everyone’s favorite салат Селёдка под шубой (“Herring under the fur coat” salad), салат Оливье (Oliv’ye salad), or салат Мимоза (Mimosa salad) among many. Certainly, New Year’s and Christmas tables won’t be complete without delicacies of красная икра (red caviar) and красная солёная рыба (red salted fish, or lox). Чёрная икра (black caviar) is a real royal treat due to the Caspian sturgeons being on a verge of extinction, hence only few Russians can afford to have black caviar on their tables.
Exactly at midnight, everyone drinks champagne and загадывает желание (makes a wish). It is customary to say farewells to the previous year. Back in the Soviet Union, Russians drank Советское Шампанское (Soviet Champagne) as there was no other kind available. Nowadays there is a wide variety, however most Russians prefer to drink Russian sparkling wine “Абрау-Дюрсо” from Abrau-Durso, Russia’s South.
But how do we say greetings like “Happy New Year!” or “Merry Christmas!”?
С Новым Годом! - Lit.: With New Year! - Happy New Year!
С Рождеством! - Lit.: With Christmas! - Merry Christmas!
С праздником! / С праздниками! - Lit.: With holiday/With holidays! - Happy Holiday(s)!
If you want to say “I wish you Happy New Year!” then you should say: Поздравляем (поздравляю) Вас (тебя) с Новым Годом! which means We congratulate (I congratulate) You (form/plural) (you - inform./singular) with New Year!
Поздравляем Вас с Рождеством! - (We’re) Wishing You (form./pl.) Merry Christmas!
(Images via Wikimedia Commons.)
